Does anyone have a copy of the configuration software and instructions for configuring this RAID disk controller on an Alphaserver (2100 4/233) for running OpenVMS? I have been looking around, but the specific steps and settings for setting it up on Alpha seem to be scattered across several guides. I would like something like a step by step on how to setup a simple RAID 0+1 setup.
Going strictly from memory, that sounds like a SWXCR variant of a MYLEX controller.
It takes booting a floppy or CD-ROM with the configuration utility on the Alpha. I think they used to be downloadable. I do not know anymore.
Someone on comp.os.vms may be able to provide you with a bootable image offline, or when Encompasserve get back up, you can ask there, since I think Encompasserve has that hardware installed.
However, you can put the card in a X86 based PC and during the boot sequence it should allow you to press a key sequence to go into a ROM based configuration utility. That utility should be able to allow you to configure the disks anyway that you want.
There is a limitation in the firmware on the Alpha variant of the card on the size of the volumes that the SWXCR can present to the operating system.
This has interpreted as a limitation of the size of the physical disks you can use. From personal experimentation, you can use the larger physical disks (still small by today's standards), just make sure that the final volumes do not exceed the max.
Make sure that the SWXCR card is always powered off before the Disks that are connected to it. Otherwise it will mark them all as failed. Then you have to boot the configuration utility and mark them fixed and do an ANAL/DISK/REPAIR after booting VMS to fix.
malmberg August 04 2022 No more VAX hobbyist licenses. Community licenses for Alpha/IA64/X86_64 VMS Software Inc. Commercial VMS software licenses for VAX available from HPE.
ozboomer July 20 2022 Just re-visiting.. No more hobbyist licenses? Is that from vmssoftware.com, no 'community' licenses?
valdirfranco July 01 2022 No more hobbyist license...sad
mister_wavey February 12 2022 I recall that the disks failed on the public access VMS systems that included Fafner
parwezw January 03 2022 Anyone know what happened to FAFNER.DYNDS.ORG? I had a hobbyist account here but can longer access the site.
gtackett October 27 2021 Make that DECdfs _2.1A_ for Vax
gtackett October 27 2021 I'm looking for DECdfs V2.4A kit for VAX. Asking here just in case anyone is still listening.
MarkRLV September 17 2021 At one time, didn't this web site have a job board? I would love to use my legacy skills one last time in my career.
malmberg January 18 2021 New Hobbyist PAKs for VAX/VMS are no longer available according to reports. Only commercial licenses are reported to be for sale from HPE
dfilip January 16 2021 Can someone please point me to hobbyist license pak? I'm looking for VAX/VMS 7.1, DECnet Phase IV, and UCX/TCPIP ... have the 7.1 media, need the license paks ... thanks!
